Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: First Presbyterian Church

Studio Name: Connick (Charles J.), Ltd.

City: Pontiac

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1955

Subject/Title of Window: Christ the Teacher, Savior, and Healer

Brief Description of Subject: As viewed from the outside, the space for this west aisle window extends quite a bit higher. For viewers inside the Church, a balcony obscures vision of the middle part. This window makes up the lower part and is called "Christ the Teacher, Savior, and Healer." The upper portion of this space is titled "Bible/Latin Cross/Crown."

The pastor, Reverend William H. Marbach, informed Connick Associates that "... it is not possible to have the intense light of the east side on the west side of the building because of the building which is about 15 ft. from our wall." Connick Associates wrote the following memo to their designer of this window: The west side is very deeply shaded by the neighboring building. We must use just as light glass and as little painted texture as possible on this side, and a great deal of rough-textured or corrugated glass to pull down and reflect in just as much light as we can."

This general information about what the donor wanted in the design of this window was closely followed by Connick:

A three-fold theme, with the figure in the central panel a presentation of Christ our Savior, in the left lancet, Christ the Teacher, and in the right lancet, Christ the Healer.
The central figure is to be a figure of Christ our Savior, with outstretched arms in the attitude of 'come unto Me.' Around the head would be a glow of light and the suggestion of the upper part of a cross back of the head of Jesus. In the robe we would like a suggestion of the purple, or lavender, which appears in the central figure of the Oliver Memorial Window of the Talents. [Purple does not appear in Christ's robe, instead it appears in the floral pattern that surrounds Christ.] Directly under the figure of Christ the Savior the words 'Come unto Me' should appear. [Inscription is from Matthew 11:28 'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" KJV.]

In the left lancet, present Christ the Teacher. To the left in this lancet, Jesus standing against a blue background of the Sea of Galilee in the posture of teaching. To the right in foreground several heads and shoulders of disciples in the attitude of listening. Beneath this, the inscription 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light' John 14:6.

In the right lancet, represent Christ the Healer. The figure of Christ with His hand on the head of a kneeling figure ... The inscription below, 'Thy Faith hath made thee whole' Mark 10:52." [In the realization of this, the kneeling figure was pictured with a bell on a staff, identifying him as a leper.]

Connick Associates notes that "the colorful field provides a rich pattern in support of this theme, with symbols of the white lily of purity in smaller medallions above and below." Their signature appears at the bottom of the right lancet as "Connick Associates Boston 1955."

Inscriptions: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light S. John XIV 6
Come unto Me
Thy Faith hath made thee whole S. Mark X 52
Dedicated to our pastor William H. Marbach D.D. Mrs. William H Marbach


Height: 7'

Width: 6'10"

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